MDGs PROGRESS: News related to report of 2012 MDGs progress and challenges from the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

by consciousglobal

Achievements:

Projected estimates indicate that the global poverty rate of $1.25 a day fell in 2010 to less than half the 1990 rate. If this is true, the first target of the MDGs—cutting the extreme poverty rate to half its 1990 level—will be achieved globally well ahead of 2015.

Also, the target of reducing by half – the number of people without access to safe drinking water was also met by 2010, with the proportion of people using an improved water source rising from 76 per cent in 1990 to 89 per cent in 2010. Between 1990 and 2010, over two billion people gained access to improved drinking water sources, such as piped supplies and protected wells.

Many countries facing challenging obstacles have made significant strides towards universal primary education. Enrollment rates for primary schools increased remarkably in sub-Saharan Africa, from 58 to 76 per cent between 1999 and 2010.

Global malaria deaths have declined by 17 percent since 2000. Over the same period, malaria related mortality rates have declined by 25 percent.

Despite these gains, there is still a lot of work to be done.

Progress has stalled for MDGs after multiple world crises occurred between 2008-2009. In fact, the goal to decrease maternal mortality by 2015 is modest at best along with the slow decline in adolescent pregnancies and increased access to contraceptives.

Claims of improved water sources met by 2010, apply disproportionately to urban populations; improved water sources remain low in rural areas. Nearly half of the population in developing regions—2.5 billion—still lacks access to improved sanitation facilities. By 2015, the world will have reached only sixty-seven (67) percent coverage, well short of the 75 percent needed to achieve the MDG target.

Gender inequality persists and women continue to face discrimination in access to education, work and economic assets, and participation in government. Violence against women continues to undermine efforts to reach all goals. Further progress to 2015 and beyond will largely depend on success on these interrelated challenges

The most recent estimates of undernourishment set the mark at 850 million people living in hunger around the world between 2006-2008. This number makes up 15.5 percent of the world population. This continuing high level reflects the lack of progress on hunger in several regions, even as income poverty has decreased.